Due to the icy ground conditions here, I haven't been able to do any "real" practice since the beginning of January - (of course, we work all the time as I handle him in the stable and to and from the field, but going for a walk or even in the arena has been made impossible) - so I haven't used the (black) Dually in that time.
When I put it on yesterday it was apparent that "baby" has grown yet a bit, and I had to adjust the fitting a hole on neck and nose. So far so good, but "Mr. Smartypants" was annoyed with something and after a while I realized that the nose strap (the one with the rings) seemed to be longer and was hanging down almost to his nostrils. I tried to pull down the rings and it was a bit better, but left without tension, it comes back down on his nose.
.
So my question is:
Can the strap be stretched out with much use?
I haven't pulled and yanked a lot in it, but we've done lots of long lining.
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Horse Behavior and Training
Dually fitting problems
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Hi Kicki, dually should be fitted so that the buckled piece that goes over his nose should sit just below his cheek bones. It should fit quite snuggly. I would recommend you see the DVD that comes with each Dually?
When you aren't using the training band (strap), it can just hang quite loosely, but coming down to his nostrils possibly sounds like you might need a red dually, which is the size smaller. Is your horse a youngster as if so, this is likely to be the case....?
Kicki,
The Dually (and any regular web halter) will stretch quite a bit when new. It will also shrink after being wet and then stretch back out again with use. Just fit the halter each time you use it. The nose strap should ride just below the cheekbones so as to keep the schooling strap/rings from riding on the vulnerable cartilege right above the nostrils. If you can't get it to ride there, you should move to a smaller size or if your colt is in between sizes, use the larger size and create new holes in the poll strap so you can correctly fit it. A hot nail makes quick work of new holes in the strap, but do it outside as the smell will be unpleasant. And smooth any hard melted plastic around the new holes with a rough fingernail file.
Good luck!
Thanks for the replies. :)
Fitting the halter isn't the problem in this case - but I do appreciate your helpful tips on how to do it - it's just the loose strap that seems to have become longer with use.
The red halter will probably be too small, and he is still growing (just 2.5 years old) so I will just keep what I got. Once I get the long lines back on, to weigh it down a bit, the problem should be solved.
hi kicki,
If the schooling rope has become longer then the chances are the chin strap at the back is too loose now and across the nose is too shallow! this can happen, especially if its on a baby with all the growing he will be doing. I would always keep the back chin strap in the tightest hole so that the nose strap is not to shalow. if it is in the last hole then i would suggest making another hole or two in the back as julie m suggested that will allow you to loosen off the nose band thus making your schooling rope stretch further across his nose.
hope this helps.
lucy
hi kicki,
If the schooling rope has become longer then the chances are the chin strap at the back is too loose now and across the nose is too shallow! this can happen, especially if its on a baby with all the growing he will be doing. I would always keep the back chin strap in the tightest hole so that the nose strap is not to shalow. if it is in the last hole then i would suggest making another hole or two in the back as julie m suggested that will allow you to loosen off the nose band thus making your schooling rope stretch further across his nose.
hope this helps.
lucy